ROCKFORD — A Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputy used pepper spray and called for backup today as he attempted to break up an altercation at the funeral of a 21-year-old homicide victim.

Rockford Police Department Sgt. Dave Hooks said that around 1:30 p.m. the deputy responded to an altercation outside Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 1901 W. State St. An argument at the funeral of Sandra Golden — a woman stabbed to death July 6 — had reportedly escalated.

“There was basically a group of people at the funeral and two sides got into it over we don’t know what,” Hooks said. “A deputy sheriff drove by and became involved trying to separate everybody.”

When those involved began throwing chunks of asphalt and concrete at cars in the street, the deputy used pepper spray to separate the feuding sides and called for help.

A dozen police officers from Rockford, the Illinois State Police and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department were on the scene as officers from other nearby departments, including Machesney Park and Loves Park, were called off after the situation was brought under control.

No arrests were made, but they could be made pending an investigation, Hooks said.

Pauline Johnson of Chicago, who said she is Golden’s cousin, said distraught members of the family had been arguing. Golden had moved from Chicago to Rockford in 2005.

Golden died a day after she was stabbed multiple times with a knife in the 500 block of Horsman Street. In what authorities believe was a domestic violence-related attack, Melvin Perkins, 30, was arrested and charged with first degree murder.